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Bhutan - The World Factbook

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South Asia

Page last updated: February 05, 2025

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The takin is the national animal of Bhutan and holds an important place in the country’s culture, religion, and national identity, as well as appearing on the country’s currency. A large, muscular, and stocky animal weighing up to 272 kg (600 lbs), its thick brownish-yellow coat and strong legs allow the takin to survive in the high altitudes and rocky terrain found in the subalpine forests of the Bhutanese mountains, eastern Himalayas, India, and China. The pictured takin lives at Royal Takin Preserve Bhutan’s capital, Thimphu.

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